A Shade of Vampire 39: A Rip of Realms(64)

Nuriya looked doubtfully at the mass of stones beyond the shore.

“It’s such old, ancient magic…I couldn’t be sure. I think it is too great a risk right now—we should leave here, find safety first.”

I nodded. It was a good plan in theory, but the chances of us finding a safe haven in this unknown land seemed small at best. The best idea was probably to follow the creatures that I had heard riding off into the distance—from the look of the cove there had been a struggle. Bodies lay strewn about, their appearance human, but strange. Taller and larger than most. They had been killed by swords – that much was obvious. Kiev’s team started to check the bodies, while my family inspected the footprints that haphazardly marked the sand. Everywhere we looked, the ground was stained with blood, filling my nostrils with its distinct metallic aroma. If the creatures, whoever they were, were fleeing this place in a hurry, then perhaps they feared the stones as much as we did. At least we would have a common enemy.

“We travel inland,” I announced to the group. “We will begin our search for the children as soon as we can—but first we need to find a stronghold where we can protect ourselves from whatever’s coming out of these stones.”

I led the way through the narrow passage, moving as swiftly as possible, Sofia following behind me.

I didn’t know what we would face when we reached the mainland.

I just had to pray that whatever was coming our way, we could deal with it—that GASP would be able to overcome the dangers of this world as it had all the others…